Entries By Day

This upcoming draft seems to be jam packed with potential
stars.Ranging from center, Joel
Embiid, to point guard, Tyler Ennis, most of the 1st round picks
might turn out to be centerpieces for the franchise that chooses them.Houndsports put together a mock draft
of players that are not only fantastic players but fit well with the teams we
chose.

1. Milwaukee Bucks:

Joel Embiid, Kansas, C

Embiid has worked his way up the draft boards in these past
few weeks, surprising everyone of the potential that this young man brings to
the table.Embiid has a nearly
flawless defensive side and his offense is improving dramatically.Embiid is the most promising player in
the class and the Bucks need a productive guy in the paint.If the Bucks decide on Embiid, they can
move John Henson to a permanent forward spot and put 7 feet Embiid at center.

2. Orlando Magic

Jabari Parker, Duke, SF

Jabari Parker brings a lot to the game.He brings a defensive presence, a
perimeter shot, driving abilities, power, explosiveness, and speed.There is not much that Jabari needs to
work on, he is NBA material.The
Magic are looking for their centerpiece.They have nice guards in Aron Afflalo and Victor Oladipo, but they are
both not capable of running a playoff caliber team.The Magic are missing a star and a small forward, Parker
would fit perfectly with Orlando.

3. Philadelphia 76ers

Andrew Wiggins, Kansas, SG

Andrew Wiggins seemed like a 1st overall pick for
sure coming into the season but as other players improved, Wiggins did not live
up to the hype that surrounded him.But don't get me wrong, Wiggins is still playing great and is helping
lead Kansas to a successful year.Wiggins really does not have much to improve on.The 76ers will likely deal out Evan
Turner to leave a spot for Wiggins, who will look to be their centerpiece to go
along with Michael Carter-Williams and Thaddeus Young.Wiggins' type of fast paced play is
what makes him more prepared for the NBA than any other prospect.

4. Utah Jazz

Julius Randle, Kentucky, PF

Julius Randle is a strong and powerful player.The Utah Jazz are a struggling
organization but what they do not need is a point guard and shooting guard due
to their solid pieces in Trey Burke and Gordon Hayward.What they do lack is a solid power
forward and Randle is the best option on the board.Although he does need some offensive work, if trained
properly, Randle can turn out to be like a Zach Randolph type of player.

5. Boston Celtics

Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, PG

Assuming Boston gets rid of Rajon Rondo, they will be in
need of an explosive and productive guard.Marcus Smart fits better at point than at the shooting guard
position just because he would be an undersized shooting guard.Smart can score, pass, and play
defense.He has a large body and
can body up most point guards.Smart will definitely be a much paid off pick in his years in the NBA.

6. Sacramento Kings

Dante Exum, Australia, PG/SG

Dante Exum declared for the NBA draft this morning.The Kings would most likely place Exum
at shooting guard because of his height of 6'6'' and because they have an
excellent, young guard in Isiah Thomas.I, honestly do not think Exum should go this high up because it is quite
rare for an international player to live up to his hype.The competition is not as great as the
NCAA, but Exum may pay off for the team that chooses him.He gets to the rim with ease.

7. Los Angeles Lakers

Aaron Gordon, Arizona, SF

Aaron Gordon is a big player.His draft stock has been rising due to Arizona's success and
his big influence on that.Gordon
is a scorer, a rebounder, and a beastly defender.He can block shots, contest, and defend the paint very
well.The Lakers will be looking
for a centerpiece to their organization since Kobe's years are coming to
close.Gordon has a strong
presence that affects how his teammates play.Los Angeles is looking to get back on the saddle soon and
Gordon would be the right pick for them.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers

Noah Vonleh, Indiana, PF

The Cavaliers experiement of going after Anthony Bennett
first overall was a complete failure.To make up for drafting a horrible forward, Noah Vonleh would be a solid
choice.Standing at nearly 7 feet
tall, Vonleh has a great post move and can rebound well.He may be a safer choice than Randle
because he seems to be more consistent.Vonleh would add another scoring option to Cleveland and would be able
to get second scoring opportunities for Kyrie off of rebounds.

9. Denver Nuggets

Rodney Hood, Duke, SF

The Nuggets have the potential to do something big, as does
Rodney Hood.Hood is tearing it up
down in Duke and has a knock down jump shot.The Nuggets already have a decent scoring team, but adding
Hood would be adding a pure shooter to the roster.Hood has a nice handle for a forward and can take a defender
to the rim with no problems.Hood
has remained a consistent source of scoring this year for Duke and will have a
successful career has a professional.

10. Detroit Pistons

Zach LaVine, UCLA, PG/SG

The Pistons are looking for a solid and consistent shooting
guard and with Jennings covering the point, LaVine would make for a consistent
shooting guard.Having two guys
who can bring up with ball is not a bad thing.LaVine is quick off the dribble, is showing signs of
improvement on the off the dribble shot, and is deadly off the catch.His range is unlike most point guards,
shooting 46.7 percent from behind the arc.LaVine is one of the underrated prospects in the draft this
year.

11. Philadelphia 76ers

Jerami Grant, Syracuse, SF/PF

Jerami Grant is one of Syracuse's top NBA prospects.Grant is a pure defender but seems to
be improving his offensive game.He has been helping to lead Syracuse to a current ranking of 2nd
in NCAA.Grant can rebound and has
power that is hard to find in college athletes.He can slam a dunk down while also shooting mid-range
jumpers.Grant's offense needs
some work but his defense makes him the athlete and powerhouse that he is.

12. Minnesota Timberwolves

Dario Saric, Croatia, SF/PF

The Timberwolves would be getting a forward who can shoot
and rebound with this pick.Saric
resembles an under-developed (not nearly has good, yet) Kevin Love, in that, he
is a big guy who can shoot from deep and also rebound just as well.Saric pulled his name out of the draft
last year, but this year will be different for sure.

13. Charlotte Bobcats

Tyler Ennis, Syracuse, PG

By this point in the draft, a team cannot pass up on
arguably the best freshman in NCAA this year, Tyler Ennis.Ennis is doing everything right now,
scoring, assisting, and playing solid defense.Ennis is the best pure point guard on the list and is a
pass-first kind of player.Ennis
can shoot but he is best at facilitating an offense.

14. Orlando Magic

Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky, C

The Magic are already overloaded with shooting guards and
small forwards since we had them drafting Jabari Parker earlier.Orlando already has a center in Nikola
Vucevic but a Cauley-Stein and Vucevic duo would be killer.Cauley-Stein is not a great offensive
threat but he plays defense like a pro.He is a phenomenal shot blocker and excels at protecting the rim.Orlando struggles at stopping the offense
and Cauley-Stein would contribute positively to the defense.

15. Chicago Bulls

Doug McDermott, Creighton, SF

The Chicago Bulls are known for being a defensive threat and
not so much of an offense.McDermott is all scoring.McDermott is averaging 24.3 PPG and he is what Chicago needs.They wouldn't guarantee a starting job
but he would serve as an off the bench, 6 man scorer.